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Page 483
vividly did she unburden it, so cleverly play upon the possibility that Ian's squires might be used as instruments to break Ian's affectionate spirit, that Llewelyn saw his son being dismembered or stretched upon the rack. As if blind to his fierce anxiety, Alinor told him she did not know where to turn. She had summoned her men, and they would be at Clifford by the end of the week, but she could not draw an army around Clyro Keep while Ian was inside.
"I thought Ian's Welsh vassals might know a better way, but I fear they will not believe me nor be willing to obey me. I thought, my lord, that if you came with me to themor if you cannot, perhaps you could give me a letter that would"
"I will not only bring Ian's vassals but my own also," Llewelyn broke in. "My brother and my son" He cut that off, moderated the rage in his voice to add gently, "Do not fret yourself, Lady Alinor. Go now to your rest. I will send my summonses out this very night."
Although he made no physical move, Sir Guy nodded to himself. Lord Llewelyn was performing Lady Alinor's will as if he were a puppet on a string. It was natural, of course, that Llewelyn should go to his son's and brother's aid, but doubtless, if left to his own devices, he would have gone a different way about it. The land, after all, was not his. For him it would be cheaper to barter the keep for Ian and Owain and leave to Alinor and Ian the delicate problem of extracting Sir Peter from his ill-gotten property, without infringing upon the sureties Llewelyn had given that they would do no such thing. Now he was, if anything, more anxious and enraged than Alinor. It was plain to Sir Guy that Llewelyn believed no physical mistreatment could make Ian yield and also that he could endure a great deal. But if torture was applied to his squires, he would give anything to save the boys. Llewelyn's one hope was that the idea might not have occurred to the castellan at once. If

 
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